Russel Norman

Maurice Williamson is wrong to call New Zealander's who are concerned about the loss of our productive farmland to overseas interests racist, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

Mr Williamson - who is the Minister that will make the final call on the whether or not a Chinese owned company can buy the Crafar farms - claimed yesterday that opposition to foreign investment is more about racism than overseas ownership.

"John Key very recently expressed concern that New Zealanders could become tenants in their own country," said Dr Norman

"By voicing his own concerns about foreign ownership the Prime Minister was not being racist but merely echoing the concerns held by a of a number of New Zealanders about foreign ownership.

"New Zealand has a terrible current account deficit.

"In the last 12 months New Zealand has paid more than nine billion dollars to owners of overseas companies and to service foreign debt.

"Selling more assets into foreign ownership will only make this worse," said Dr Norman.

"It's time Ministers within the Key Government dealt with the valid economic concerns of New Zealanders on this issue without accusing those opposed to New Zealand selling its assets into overseas ownership of being racist.

"New Zealand should not be selling off our best assets to Chinese, American or Australian investors.

"If Mr Williamson thinks opposition to a foreign sell-off of New Zealand's productive land is racist then he should be removed from the decision making role he has for the Crafar farms," said Dr Norman.